During this peer group meeting, experiences were shared on the routine maintenance of collections. Proper collection maintenance is essential to prevent problems such as mold and insect infestation. However, there are no concrete guidelines on what constitutes proper maintenance. Therefore, several colleagues from the sector shared their maintenance methods.
Martijn Vandenbroucke spoke about biological maintenance at Amsab-ISG. This involves using living organisms such as bacteria to combat dust. These bacteria process dirt and harmful substances, reducing the growth of mold and insects. The biological products are sprayed four times a year in the warehouses. This type of maintenance is not only more environmentally friendly than using cleaning products but can also be carried out on a small budget and with limited staffing. Bacterial count measurements are already tentatively showing a positive effect of this approach.
